New projects are popping up across Des Moines’ East Village, turning former eyesores into multimillion dollar sites.

New projects are popping up across Des Moines’ East Village, turning former eyesores into multimillion dollar sites.

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Updated: 7:50 AM CDT Mar 27, 2015

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WEBVTT 33 DEGREES AT 11:00 A.M. AS WE HEAD FOR A HIGH OF JUST 42. STEVE: RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE SOME EXCITING NEW PROJECTS POPPING UP ALL OVER DES MOINES' EAST VILLAGE. AS KCCI'S RYAN SMITH SHOWS US, SOME FORMER EYESORES ARE NOW MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SITES. RYAN: THIS ENTIRE BLOCK AT 3RD AND LOCUST WAS A FINANCIAL DEAD ZONE FOR NEARLY A DECADE. NOW, THIS CONSTRUCTION SITE INDICATES A MAJOR FACELIFT IS UNDERWAY. IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH NOW, BUT FRONT LOADERS AND A CONSTRUCTION CREW IS A SIGN OF PROGRESS. THIRD AND LOCUST HAS BEEN AN EYESORE FOR YEARS. THAT ALL CHANGES THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW SOMETHING FUN IS COMING. THAT IS A HUGE MENTAL BOOST. RYAN: IN ONE YEARS TIME, A MAKESHIFT FENCE AND DIRT TRANSFORMED INTO THIS $50 MILLION PROJECT. CITY SQUARE WILL FEATURE MARKET RATE LOFTS, A HOTEL AND A PARKING GARAGE. BRINGING MORE GUESTS INTO A HOTEL AND MORE RESIDENTS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE DINING OUT . RYAN: 350 EAST LOCUST, A HUB OF CULTURE AND COMMERCE, IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S LATEST MAKEOVER. MARK NELSON RUNS A FAMILY OPERATED BAKERY WHERE SUCCESS IS SERVED ONE CUP AT A TIME. MORE IN THE EAST VILLAGE AND ALL THAT IS GOING ON HERE, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW BUSINESSES. RYAN: PERHAPS THE MOST ANTICIPATED EAST VILLAGE EDITION IS EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE T-SHIRT STORE. RAYGUN BUILT-IN A 7000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING. WHEN THE OWNER NEEDED MORE SPACE, LEAVING THE EAST VILLAGE WASN'T AN OPTION. YOU RARELY FIND THIS MANY BIG DRAWS IN JUST A THREE BLOCK AREA. THE AREA HAS SO MANY WELL-RUN BUSINESSES THAT ATTRACT PEOPLE. RYAN: RAY GUN OPENS UP IN THEIR NEW LOCATION TOMORROW MORNING. AS FOR THE CITY SQUARE DISTRICT, THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE

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Former East Village eyesore sees new life

New projects are popping up across Des Moines’ East Village, turning former eyesores into multimillion dollar sites.